Combat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Combat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Introduction

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a type of anxiety which develops as a result of a stressful event or situation which may have occurred anywhere from a few days to even several years in the past. (Burkhart et al. 2010) It can be explained as an individual's response to an intense, traumatic incident. Such incidents may involve torture, accident, rape, life threatening disease or event, physical injuries, death of someone really close, threat of death or even natural calamities. (National Institute for Clinical Excellence, 2005) 

This research critically examines the prevalence of PTSD within our society and analyzes the scope of psychotherapy in combating PTSD.

Methodology

According to statistics approximately 6 to 7% people tend to suffer from post traumatic stress disorder at least once in their lives. Moreover amongst these people, women tend to face a higher risk of exposure to PTSD as compared to men. The national institute of health along with other major funding agencies is now becoming increasingly aware of this disorder and is seeking ways to combat PTSD. However, before engaging in treating this disorder, it is imperative to identify its key symptoms.  (National Institute of Mental Health, 2010)

Symptoms of PTSD Post traumatic stress disorder can be broadly grouped into three main categories.1. Re-experiencing An individual suffering from PTSD may re-experience the stressor or the traumatizing act through flashbacks (causing the individual to relive the event over and over again), nightmares and frightening thoughts. All these symptoms may cause hindrances in an individual's daily routine where almost anything from their own individual thoughts and feelings to distant objects that may remind him/her of the tragic event. (National Institute of Mental Health, 2010)

2. Avoidance symptoms

This involves a feeling of guilt, detachment, numbness or even depression causing the individual to refrain from places, events, people or even objects which reminds them of the dreadful experience. Thus as a result, the individual may cease to take an interest in activities which they once enjoyed in the past. (National Institute of Mental Health, 2010)

3. Hyper arousal Additionally, people suffering from PTSD may develop irritability, insomnia, frequent outburst, impaired concentration and hyper vigilance depicting an edgy behavior or even get easily startled. Unlike the other two, hyper arousal symptoms usually tend to remain constant as opposed to being triggered by events that remind them of the tragic event. Thus, keeping an individual in a ...